The Metropolitan Police says there is “no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed” over allegations against the BBC presenter – who has been named as Huw Edwards.
The force was “assessing information” supplied by the BBC over claims the 61-year-old paid a teenager for explicit pictures.
But in a statement released this evening, the Met said detectives from its Specialist Crime Command “have now concluded their assessment and have determined there is no information to indicate that a criminal offence has been committed”.
BBC presenter latest: Police release update after ‘assessing information’
Shortly after the statement was released Edwards was named by his wife Vicky Flind in a statement issued on his behalf.
She said said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now “receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.
The Met statement added: “In reaching this decision, they have spoken to a number of parties including the BBC and the alleged complainant and the alleged complainant’s family, both via another police force.
“There is no further police action. As such, the Met has advised the BBC it can continue with its internal investigation.
“We are aware of media reporting of further allegations against the same individual. No specific details or information about these allegations have been passed to us and therefore there is no police action at this time.
“Should evidence of criminality or safeguarding issues be identified at any point we would expect matters to be referred to the relevant police force.”
Edwards is one of the corporation’s most high-profile newsreaders and is currently on a salary of just over £430,000.
He has presented the flagship BBC News at Ten programme more than a dozen times since the claims were allegedly reported to the corporation on 19 May.
